A facelift can mitigate the effects of the aging process on your facial skin and tissues. Double-board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Richard V. Balikian is highly trained in several facelift techniques. He can perform your facelift in San Diego to refresh and refine your facial contours.
Are You a Good Candidate for a Facelift?
A facelift can be an effective solution for patients in good physical health who want to fight back against the effects of time and gravity on the facial tissues. Patients concerned with loss of volume or deep wrinkles may need to combine a facelift with an additional procedure for more comprehensive rejuvenation.
In your initial consultation, Dr. Balikian will assess your facial features, consider your medical history, and learn about your unique treatment goals. He can then determine which procedure can help you best achieve your desired look.
Types of Facelifts
As a specialist in facial plastic surgery, Dr. Balikian can reverse gravity’s effects on your face by lifting, tightening, and smoothing your facial tissues. He is trained in several facelift techniques, allowing him to create a precise and effective treatment plan for each patient.
He performs the following types of facelifts:
Mini Facelift
A mini facelift by Dr. Balikian involves making discreet incisions near the ears, which allow him to refine the jawline, address marionette lines, and gently lift tissues to remove years from your facial appearance.
Facelift (lower face and neck lift)
This facelift requires a small incision under the chin and small, well-concealed incisions around the ears. Dr. Balikian can then lift and smooth your lower facial contours and address signs of aging in the neck, such as excess fat, neck bands, or a “turkey waddle.”
Extended Deep Plane Facelift
This is an advanced procedure performed only by facial plastic surgery experts like Dr. Balikian. An extended deep plane facelift can achieve dramatic results, allowing for a unified lift of the deeper skin and tissues. Dr. Balikian can address sagging cheeks, nasolabial folds, jowls, and marionette lines with this technique.
Neck Lift
This surgery can eliminate loose skin in the chin and neck, remove excess fat, and tighten the skin and muscles to create a slim, graceful neckline. While a neck lift can be a singular surgery, it is often combined with a lower facelift to attain the most aesthetic results.
Other Procedures to Consider
Facial Fat Transfer
As we age, our face also ages like a grape, turning into a raisin. Volume is lost, and unwanted folds and creases develop. Although a facelift will lift some tissues into place and help fill those spots, more volume is often needed. Facial fat transfer allows Dr. Balikian to replace your volume loss with your own fat from other parts of your body, such as stubborn belly fat. Combining fat transfer with a facelift allows Dr. Balikian to tap into his artistry to complete the picture of a pretty face. He often says a facelift rejuvenates while the fat adds beauty. Contact Balikian Facial Plastic Surgery to schedule an appointment!
CO2 Laser Resurfacing
Often, wrinkles on the face are deep and stubborn. A properly performed facelift can help smooth some wrinkles by removing excess skin. It will not eliminate deeper wrinkles. Dr. Balikian often recommends a CO2 laser resurfacing simultaneously as surgery in this situation. Through this heat stamp, the top layer of skin will be resurfaced, and the deeper layers will be contracted. Collagen formation will begin, and the deepest wrinkles will be improved. Just like refurbishing a damaged piece of furniture with medium sandpaper, the overall result will look better, but the deepest dings will remain to some extent.
Lip Lift
If you suffer from droopy skin around the eyelids that make you look older and tired while limiting your vision, you may be a good fit for blepharoplasty. The best candidates for blepharoplasty should be in good physical health, ready to follow any pre-operative instructions, and have realistic expectations. We will help determine your candidacy for the procedure during your consultation.
Schedule a Facelift Consultation
Dr. Balikian performs facelifts in San Diego for patients with many concerns. If you are dissatisfied with how time and gravity have affected your facial appearance, contact our office to schedule a facelift consultation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How is a facelift performed?
A facelift is a surgical procedure designed to reduce visible signs of aging on the face and neck. It typically involves making incisions around the hairline, ears, and sometimes under the chin.
What can I expect during facelift recovery?
Recovery from a facelift generally involves a few weeks of downtime. Immediately after surgery, patients may experience swelling, bruising, and discomfort, which can be managed with prescribed pain medication. Bandages are typically removed within a few days, and most stitches are removed within a week. It’s common to feel tightness or numbness in the face for several weeks. We advise patients to avoid strenuous activities and to follow post-operative care instructions to ensure proper healing.
Will a facelift leave scars?
Like any surgical procedure, a facelift does leave scars, but they are usually well-hidden and fade over time. Dr. Balikian makes incisions in discreet locations, such as along the hairline, around the ears, and sometimes under the chin, to minimize visible scarring. With proper care and following post-operative instructions, scars typically become less noticeable. It’s important to protect the incisions from sun exposure and use recommended scar treatments to aid in the healing process.
How long do facelift results last?
Facelift results are long-lasting, typically enduring for 10 to 15 years. However, the natural aging process continues, and factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and skin type can affect the longevity of the results. Maintain a healthy lifestyle, including proper skincare, sun protection, and avoid smoking. Some patients may opt for minor touch-up procedures or non-surgical treatments to maintain their rejuvenated appearance over time.
Can a facelift be combined with other procedures?
Yes, a facelift can be combined with other cosmetic procedures to enhance overall results. Common complementary procedures include eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), brow lift, neck lift, and non-surgical treatments like dermal fillers or Botox.
I felt well prepared prior to surgery and excited.
I always planned to have a facelift but was really apprehensive about scars and the ‘Joker face’ look, but when I saw the lower facelift/neck lift results on another of his patients, I was finally ready. Dr. Balikian and his staff answered all my questions and I felt well prepared prior to surgery and excited. […] I’m only 12 days post-op and have no visible suture lines. My saggy neck skin and jowls are gone! I just look refreshed and younger, far from the ‘Joker face’ look I was afraid of. I’m really happy with my results and I will recommend Dr. Balikian without hesitation.
